E-mail only system?

[Kathyhl]

This may be one of the lamest questions I've ever asked here, but here goes. My mother is almost 80, and wants nothing to do with computers, however, if all she had was some type of e-mail set up, I know she would love to keep in contact with the family. Is there anything at all like that anywhere?

Thank you for any responses you may have.

Kathy

[zapjb]

While we're waiting for better ideas.

A used Windows 98se with 14" monitor, 2 button mouse at the local Goodwill, Thrift store or church donation. $50 total.

A new Linux OS computer. Wal/K mart ~$250.

I know they're computers.

But virtually virus proof solutions.

When my elderly folks Windows 95 computer died. I sent them the, "Windows 98se with 14" monitor, 2 button mouse at the local Goodwill, Thrift store or church donation. $50 total", way. We're both happy. It'd be a nightmare if they'd had gotten an XP box.

[Kathyhl]

Thank you so much Zapjb. I never even thought about an older model. And Actually I have one, so there's no reason I can't get just the e-mail going and delete everything else that would need upgrading or would cause her confusion. I figure with three of us kids, we can share the isp costs, and all she'd get is the benefit! What a wonderfull idea!!!

It also gives me something constructive to do in order to prepare it for her.

Sometimes we just can't see the forest for the trees

Kathy

[zapjb]

You're welcome.

[hjbyram]

Have you looked into The Mailstation?
http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/mailstation_review

I bought one of these for my Mom who can't deal with the mouse & she loved it. The editor is not very good, but she was able to correspond with her friends via email. The problem we had was that the monitor is very small. However, you can hook it to a printer. We had it for several years, with no problems. (We dealt solely with Earthlink.)

[Kathyhl]

Thank you Hjbyram, I had no idea something like that even existed. Will try it out along with fixing an old one I have around here.

Kathy

[Marja]

OK, this might be a dumb 'follow-up' question...

I have a relative that might be able to deal with mailstation-
Can it get spammed too??
Told ya it was dumb...lol!

Also, Kathy, I learned on one of those $50 machines...it's a great starter puter! Who knows what it will start..?

[zapjb]

Originally Posted by hjbyram

Have you looked into The Mailstation?
http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/mailstation_review...

The review is from 1999. And from the review:

Cons:
Can't use with multiple regular ISP (POP accts)
No backlight on display
There aren't dialup numbers for every city

Looks very hard to read.

[midway40]

I have been seeing commercials about this computer-less email system:

Celery

[hjbyram]

midway40 - yes that is probably correct as that is about the timeframe I bought this for my Mom.

This has only one earthlink email account only, NO web access. As I recall it allowed to retrieve news highlights & TV highlights and email, that was it, very limited. It could be connected to a printer. Ours was dial-up.

The screen display was very small, which is why my Mom ended up having to give it up & giving it to a relative.

More googling finds only some press releases from 2002 & 2003, I'm beginning to think these aren't in existence anymore? There used to be 3 models/plans. I found this 1-866-874-2071 listed for them, but did not call. When I try WWW.MAILSTATION.COM, it now takes me to WWW.EARTHLINK.NET & I don't see any readily available info on them on the site.

Sorry everyone, I think these are no longer offered, probably because of the viewing problems. My apologies for not checking into it first before posting. I'll do better next time.

[zapjb]

From the Celery site.

Email by Fax: How It Works
To receive email, customers just answer the phone. Instead of unpleasant fax noises, they hear our friendly voice message, then their email prints.

Seems nonsensical to me.

[hjbyram]

My apologies zapjb - I mistakenly replied to midway40 rather to you -
definitely need to do better.
And I agree with on the Celery site, which I have not heard of before.

[hjbyram]

Everyone - did a little more searching last night. It appears the Earthlink Mailstation was originally done by Cidco & Earthlink bought them. It also appears the name has changed to Earthlink Mivo 250 & 350. Amazon.com is showing a cordless model, currently not available on the Amazon website,
http://www.amazon.com/EarthLink-Mivo.../dp/B00005O0KW The reviews on the Amazon website are from 2002-2004 & are all over the place. (I still can't find these items on the Earthlink website, so am unsure of their availability as new models.)

I also found this, stumbled across it by accident on the Amazon site https://www.mailbugstore.com/splashPage.hg
However the mailbug can't be connected to a printer & can't accept attachments.

It appears both of these items charge extra if no local access number is available in your area.

Please note, my experience with the old Mailstation 250 was several years ago now (2000 I think), we had no setup or access troubles & excellent customer support, but we also had no difficulties with the machine while my Mom used it, which was about 2 years. Our only complaint was the small display screen & not very good text editor. I had to prop the machine at a certain angle for my Mom to read the text properly due to glare problems. For lengthier received emails, we ended up printing rather than scrolling. I'm only commenting here, not recommending.

[Kathyhl]

Thank you everyone. I've been following all the responses on here, and with everything said, plus what I "thought" I would do, my best bet is to have a tech make exactly what I want.....to much crap comes with a new pc that my mother wouldn't know from her fried chicken, which means I'm just going to have to wait a little while longer to put my good intentions into play. I had also planned on paying her isp each month for her, rather than give her something and then leave her with a monthly bill, but I also need to find out exactly what she does have where she's living, being as it's a very small place in Arizona, so connection may well be a problem anyway. Luckily I never mentioned anything to her, so I really have lots of time to find out exactly what I have to work with.

Again, thanks to everyone who has taken their time to do a little exploring for me.

Kathy

[zapjb]

@Kathyhl
http://shop2.outpost.com/isp/phone_prefixesAZ.html
FRYS ISP
$5.99/mnth unlimited dialup

Access #s Arizona

Location Access Number
Bisbee (520) 366-8145
Casa Grande (520) 413-4385
Flagstaff (928 ) 268-1903
Flagstaff (928 ) 268-1905
Gila Bend (928 ) 436-1202
Gila Bend (928 ) 436-1203
Globe (928 ) 793-4282
Hayden (520) 357-4011
Kingman (928 ) 377-4013
Lake Havasu City (928 ) 208-4813
Nogales (520) 842-1301
Nogales (520) 842-1303
Payson (928 ) 478-8016
Phoenix (602) 926-2906
Phoenix (602) 926-2913
Prescott (928 ) 493-1904
Prescott (928 ) 493-1906
Safford (928 ) 792-4291
San Manuel (520) 487-4011
Sedona (928 ) 496-1301
Sedona (928 ) 496-1304
Sierra Vista (520) 226-4280
Superior (520) 689-4013
Tucson (520) 844-2004
Tucson (520) 844-2011
Wickenburg (928 ) 415-4278
Willcox (520) 254-4029
Winslow (928 ) 224-4282
Yuma (928 ) 597-1504
Yuma (928 ) 597-1506

[Kathyhl]

zapjb,

Thank you SO much, what a wealth of information!

Kathy

[zapjb]

You're welcome. Any of those access #s work for your Mom?

[Kathyhl]

She lives in Bouse, but sometimes goes into Lake Havasu for her shopping, so yes, that one might work.

Thanks again

[Marja]

HI Kathy and All!

I read about something by HewettPackard called Presto..

You can't send any email from it, but you can receive email and photos from anyone that has a computer.

Here is a link that explains it all, real simple, no isp, no puter, no spam (they say)-just a phone line....

http://www.presto.com/index.aspx

Not sure that's what you want, she won't be able to reply except by phone or letter?

Just an idea!

An excerpt from the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The HP Printing Mailbox with Presto Service is designed for people who do not use a computer or are not online. Using any email account, family and friends can send email and photos to the HP Printing Mailbox user. The Presto Service converts regular email and photo attachments into Presto Mail—beautiful, easy-to-read color printouts that are automatically delivered to the HP Printing Mailbox on a daily schedule, just like letters. There's no limit to the number of messages or photos you can send.


Q: Does the Printing Mailbox require its own telephone line?

No—a separate phone line is not required. The Printing Mailbox can share the phone jack with your regular telephone. During account setup, you will specify the exact times during the day you want the Printing Mailbox to use the phone line to retrieve messages. The Printing Mailbox will only use the phone line for a few minutes a day—at the times you designate—to check for messages.

Q: Can Printing Mailbox users reply to email?

Our customers tell us simplicity is what makes Presto so special. Because Presto and the Printing Mailbox is a receive-only email service, users do not have the cost and hassles of a computer and Internet account, and do not need to learn to send email or use a keyboard.

Most recipients respond to Presto email the way they're most comfortable—with a phone call. Presto makes this easy to do by printing the sender's telephone number on each email we deliver.
Q: How much does it cost?

The retail price of the HP Printing Mailbox is just $149.99. Presto Service is just $9.99 per month for an unlimited number of email messages, photos, and articles. Or choose the annual service plan for just $99.99 per year. Email senders are not charged any fee for sending messages.

[Kathyhl]

Thank you Marja,

I had no idea something like that even existed, so it's really nice to know I can pass it on under the right circumstances. With my mother, a send and receive program is more what I was looking for. My mother would feel like she needed to respond, and between my sister and two brothers, it would get a bit expensive for her to reply by calling all of us, especially as we are all in different states But again, thank you so much for the information and knowledge.

Kathy

[Marja]

Yer welcome!

I kinda figured it wasn't what you needed-does she type?

If you get a bare bones puter, you could put a voice recog prog on it, then she wouldn't even have to type.
Or use Voip or ...?

Seems with this Presto, there should soon be an alternative that would let people also send...who knows by Fall?

I'll PM ya if I come across anything else!

Marja

[Kathyhl]

As a matter of fact she used to type years ago, so I doubt that would ever be a problem for her, she just doesn't want anything to do with something technical now. She figures the less hassles she has to deal with, the better. I can't really blame her, and she's now trying to live as simple as possible in her older years, which is why I initially started looking for something very simple, but with today's technology, I guess nothing is really simple anymore

Thanks Marja